Menus
Driving report Edwards-Honda VTR SP-W
Basement children
Thrust from the lower speed range, that seems to be the key to success. After years of Ducati dominance, Honda is now continuing the V2 success story.
Did you know? A superbike needs between 2.8 and 3.0 seconds to catapult its rider from a standing start to 100 km / h under good conditions. Nothing special, you will say now. Right. That’s just coming. It only takes another 3.2 to 3.5 seconds to reach 200 km / h. Even a 500 cc, which is around 30 kilograms lighter, is hardly faster, with the best acceleration value measured so far being 5.8 seconds from zero to 200. And if it weren’t for this rising front wheel, it would be even faster. The wheat from the chaff only separates above 250 items. Then the light and, above all, much narrower and smaller 500s clearly gain the upper hand over the superbikes.
A difference that will remain hidden from me at today’s event on the Japanese Grand Prix track. Because once again it turns out differently than you think. Although the preparation is almost perfect. Hot coffee is ready in the box, the RC 181 from Mike Hailwood from 1967 and Freddy Spencer’s V3 from 1984 form the decoration, and a meticulously worked out schedule hangs on the pin board. Still, something goes wrong: It’s raining. Yesterday, all night and still this morning.
But I’m lucky. I don’t get to know the SP-W until the afternoon, Superbike World Champion Colin Edwards’ work equipment. Shortly before the sky closes its locks. And lo and behold, despite rain tires, a wet road surface and quite cool temperatures, the factory superbike finds a surprising amount of grip. If caution and low speed is required in the many very slow sweeps, the tap can be fully opened on the long straights.
Contrary to expectations, I am not struggling with a spinning rear wheel, but a rising front wheel. This rises very gently, but firmly from the ground. If you can use the automatic gearshift to engage the next gear at the right moment, you can balance the Honda up to fourth gear over the 200 km / h limit in this somewhat detached state. Very easily, naturally.
Of course ?? this is always the case with this superbike. Braking on wet roads so that the rear wheel lifts? as a matter of course. Precise turn in? as a matter of course. In a lean position, apply the throttle gently and accelerate out of the corner with a silky smooth ride with the tail sliding slightly? as a matter of course. It’s hard to believe the suppleness with which the Showa spring elements filter away even the fine bumps on the slope, which is only two years old. And despite the relatively soft rain setting chosen by the technical crew, there is never a spongy feeling.
Some lighter test driver colleagues complain about a certain instability on the straights. Whether it’s because of my 1.90 meters or a different driving style? nothing commutes with me. This SP is just great. Very different from the recently ridden 500 by Kenny Roberts, the suberbike, this type of motorcycling, looks very familiar. Thanks to the wonderfully adjustable Nissin brake with steel discs, which can be calculated at any time and without the pitfalls of a carbon brake system.
But wait, after two rounds I get a bit impetuous and promptly get the receipt. The Honda doesn’t like too hectic shifting and nervous plucking on the throttle. The previously silky flow of power is now interrupted by a strong jolt. So back to the quieter way. Let go, with feeling and not with force. This V2 wants to be caressed, not squeezed out.
This is not even necessary, because from 4000 rpm the two-cylinder pushes forward as evenly as its series counterpart ?? just much, much stronger. In the set-up, the VTR SP-W rotates up to 12,000 rpm with constantly increasing power, in the qualification trim under Colin Edwards there are certainly a few hundred more revolutions. But this is one of the well-kept secrets of the Honda technicians, as is the top performance of their V2 engine. Over 180 hp it says succinctly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
D.But nothing is really “normal” about this bike. Because similarities with the series VTR SP-1 are desired, but rather coincidental. Whether fork, swing arm, shock absorber, brakes, tank and seat bench, engine internals, radiator arrangement or electronics, everything is the finest custom-made products, where costs and effort are irrelevant. A dream for every technology freak. And the stuff that victories are made of.
Technical data – HONDA VTR 1000 SP-W
Motor: Water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90-degree V-engine, transverse crankshaft, two overhead, gear-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, electronic intake manifold injection, engine management, bore x stroke 100 x 63.6 mm, displacement 999 cm³ nominal power over 180 hp at 12,000 rpm Power transmission: primary drive via gear wheels, hydraulically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, chassis: bridge frame made of aluminum profiles, upside-down fork from Showa, two-arm swing arm with upper cables made of aluminum profiles, central spring strut from Showa, Nissin brake system with double disc at the front, Ø 320 mm, six-piston calipers, internally ventilated disc brake at the rear, Ø 220 mm. Magnesium wheels 3.50 x 17; 6.00 / 6.25 x 17Dimensions and weightsL / W / H 2039/660/1152 mmWheelbase 1431 mmWeight without petrol over 162 kgTank capacity 21 liters
Related articles
-
Honda CB 650 F in the driving report
Photo: Plant 36 pictures Plant 1/36 Honda CB 650 F in the driving report. Plant 2/36 Honda CB 650 F in the driving report. Plant 3/36 Honda CB 650 F in the driving report. Plant 4/36 …
-
Driving report Cagiva V-Raptor and Raptor
Driving report Cagiva V-Raptor and Raptor But now! Cagiva was always brave, rarely successful. Top seller? Never. Power, concept, quality – it hung somewhere …
-
Driving report BMW R 1150 R Gaudi max Langenscheidt’s dictionary translates roadsters with open sports two-seater or strong touring bikes. Who the intimate …
-
Kawasaki driving report Kawasaki ER-6n (2009) Freshness treatment for Kawasaki’s bestseller Cleaner, better quality, friendlier ?? Kawasaki announces its bestseller for …
-
Driving report Kawasaki ZZR 1400
Artificial driving report Kawasaki ZZR 1400 (2006) Full program With the ZZR 1400, performance is program: 200 hp make it the most powerful series machine of all …
-
Driving report KTM EXC 400-520 Racing
Driving report KTM EXC 400/520 Racing Raise your cups Reason to celebrate? Why, surely. With the 400 and 520 Racing, KTM achieved the coup of this off-road season …
-
Driving report KTM Duke II road mower Even if it is green, with the new Duke off-road manufacturer KTM dares to venture out of the field as far as ever …
-
Driving report WITEC-BMW RC 1100 SC
Driving report WITEC-BMW RC 1100 SC tiller With elemental force, an unleashed boxer pulls furrows in the ground. The WITEC-BMW – always looking for …
-
Driving report Kawasaki Ninja 400 (2018)
Arturo Rivas 29 images Arturo Rivas 1/29 Kawasaki has revised the entry-level ninja. The twin’s displacement and power increased, which is now …
-
Driving report KTM 1290 Super Duke R
Photo: KTM 23 photos KTM 1/23 There is no competition! Pithy words, but you have to agree with KTM press man Thomas Kuttruf. KTM 2/23 seat and rear …